During the second year of the Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02), students have the unique opportunity to work for a period of 1 year on an Individual Thesis Project, focused on the development of a research or pilot project based on the student’s interest, and the learnings of the first year. IAAC supports the student in selecting their Thesis Project topic in order to better orient them according to their future career interests and opportunities. Each student, according to their specific topic, is assigned one or more Thesis Advisors that follow the development of the work throughout the year.
In parallel to the development of the Individual Thesis Project, the second year of the MAA02 offers a series of seminars enhancing the theoretical, practical and computational skills of the students.
Tensile Soft Membrane
Reconfigurable Soft Membrane Architecture:Designing tensile installations from natural & bio- materials for versatile spatial applications
Bio Build
this thesis project is part of a collaboration with Finsa, an industrial partner of IAAC. Together, we are working on developing innovative composite materials that can be processed using cutting-edge pressing technology provided by another industrial partner. This technology relies heavily on the presence of cellulose, as its functionality is directly tied to the cellulose … Read more
DESIGN FLEX
Website Link – https://www.figma.com/proto/NxJwLJw7ZcS9RPf7b0JLMH/DesignFlex?page-id=191%3A2&node-id=191-3&viewport=1394%2C-977%2C0.55&t=NuYCmGfdDFMOsCxY-1&scaling=contain&content-scaling=fixed&starting-point-node-id=191%3A3
Bespoke/F
PHYGITAL3D : Bridging Imagination and Fabrication
A web based application focused on leveraging, generative AI to develop, images to 3D mesh, and then fabricate them at printing facilities, offering efficient prototyping and hassle free translation of designs to reality! , with the aid of toolkit, fostering the latest models and technology
Finsa-composite
Initial Investment: €1000 as starting capital. Revenue Growth: Starts at €1000 in Month 2, increases by €250 monthly, reaching €3500 in Month 12. Expenses: None recorded, keeping them at zero throughout the year. Cash Flow: Matches revenue, peaking at €3500 in Month 12. Total Cash: Rises steadily due to no expenses, reaching €25750 by Month … Read more
Carbon Based Design
Introduction The course was an intensive, five-day workshop dedicated to calculating the carbon impact and exploring innovative solutions for the upcoming IAAC building. The goal was to present a proposal that could reduce the emissions in 40%. Location The design for the new IAAC building has already been approved and is now awaiting construction. Located … Read more
ROTATIONAL COLUMN – CIRCULAR WOOD DESIGN
STATE OF ART Part to Whole HG-A, South Korea – 2014 Building Traditions with Digital Research Rui Oliveira, Jose Pedro Sousa – 2016 Columns are analyzed as primary element of Ferreira’s designs. Columns, traditionally crafted through meticulous layering of bricks, are viewed both as structural and visual elements in his designs. RESEARCH QUESTION; “In what … Read more
Intervening Carbon
Carbon Based Design | Designing Circularity in the Built Environment SITE EXISITING WAREHOUSE POINT CLOUD MODEL Material Flow Analysis PROPOSAL
ROBOTIC FABRICATION SEMINAR
The environmental impact of the construction industry is a pressing concern. As architects, it’s essential that we shift from a linear model of consumption and production to a circular economy. In recent years, there has been notable progress in upcycling various construction materials and replacing high-emission materials like concrete with more sustainable alternatives, such as … Read more
Irregular Modularity
How can we use irregular elements of reclaimed offcut-timber to challenge the methodology of using planar, Interlocking and stacking techniques which can then be utilized in the design of forms ? Data CollectionThis first starts with a collection of materials and the creation of a database. This database serves as a resource for the planning … Read more
Standardizing Non-Homogeneous Wood for Robotic Stack Assembly and Disassembly
How can reclaimed timber waste from manufacturing be leveraged using robotic fabrication and computational design to develop sustainable, scalable and customizable urban installation? Process of Sorting & Splitting the Beams Geometry Distribution Workflow Assembly Robotic Setup for Processing Robotic Processing Concept Prototype AI-Generated Concept Renders
Kit of Parts
Our concept Kit of Parts is inspired by homes that can be easily assembled and disassembled and adapt in size. We are living in an ever changing world that is under a lot of stress caused by climate change. We thought that a cabin that could move easily and become smaller or larger was a … Read more
ArtNest
ArtNest stands as a versatile pavilion, conceived to serve as a dynamic exhibition space for a variety of art installations. Purposefully crafted to blend functionality with aesthetic allure, ArtNest redefines the pavilion typology by providing a flexible framework that adapts to diverse artistic needs. The architecture of ArtNest illustrates the compelling synergy between traditional design principles … Read more
GeoCabin
The Concept GeoCabin is an exploration of three forms of digital fabrication: CNC Milling, Laser Cutting and 3D Printing. It features a continuous, blob-like geometry inspired by the lime-green blobs found in the Andes. The geometry was created through parametric algorithms, blending curves and voids. The design process evolves from a base geometry to a … Read more